By now, most Americans are familiar with the horrific
murder of a Pensacola, Florida, couple by the name of
Byrd and Melanie Billings. They were the parents of 17
children, 13 of whom were adopted—most of whom had
disabilities.

This case hits home with me, because they lived in my
hometown of Pensacola. I did not know them personally,
but they were fairly well known around town. Byrd was a
well-to-do businessman who owned a used car business and
financial loan service.

Byrd and Melanie were shot to death in their own home a
week ago Thursday. So far, eight people have been
arrested in the case: seven men and one woman. The seven
men are each charged with two open counts of murder, and
the woman is charged with accessory to murder after the
fact. Law enforcement officials said yesterday that at
least one more
"person of interest" is being sought.[VDARE.com
note:
Three black males, two Hispanic males, one white male, one juvenile of unknown ethnicity
and one
white female.]

TThe Billings murder case was broken open by the fact
that their home was equipped with a surveillance system,
which recorded the vehicle used to transport the
murderers to the home and probably much of the criminal
activity inside the house, although the sheriff`s office
has not released the video of what was recorded inside
the house. The video of the van led police to the
suspects.

Our State Attorney, Bill Eddins, says that all of the
perpetrators who actively took part in the shootings are
in custody. At least five of the men were inside the
house when the murders took place; and police said the
killers were in and out of the house in four minutes.

In a news conference yesterday, Escambia County Sheriff
David Morgan and State Attorney Bill Eddins said they
have the murder
"weapon or weapons." They also said that the
remaining "person of interest" was supposed to disable the surveillance system but did
not do so,
which is why the system was still operational when the
crimes occurred. In addition, Morgan and Eddins said the
motive was robbery, because a small safe was taken from
the house, but that other motives could also apply to
the killings. Federal agencies are also assisting with
the Billings murders, including the FBI, BATFE, and DEA.

To my way of thinking, this case smacks of much more
than a robbery gone badly. There were at least eight,
and maybe nine, people involved. Maybe more. The
invasion and killings were perpetrated in less than four
minutes, by multiple assailants, and with "military
precision." The home invasion took place at
approximately 7:30 p.m. local time. And at the time of
the shooting, nine of the Billings children were in the
home.

I believe murder, not robbery, was the motive.
Extraordinary planning and the number of personnel
involved indicate to me that the Billings were executed,
and that robbery was an afterthought—or was even
intended to be a ruse to mislead law enforcement. The
real reason behind the killings may never be known, of
course.

Regardless of the
"why" and
"how" of the killings, one thing is painfully
obvious: a violent attack took place against a man and
his wife inside their own home.

And while the circumstances of the Billings case may be
sensational, the simple fact that a couple was murdered
inside their own home has become rather commonplace
throughout the United States. Nationwide, home invasions
are skyrocketing.

And, sadly, most people do not possess a keen sense of self-defense. Most people have the deluded opinion that law enforcement will protect them. But even law
enforcement professionals will tell you it is not their
job to protect citizens; it is their job to apprehend
and bring those who have committed crimes to justice. In
other words, after you are dead, the cops will try to
catch the guys who killed you.

It is time that people wake up to the fact that the
responsibility of self-defense rests with each
individual citizen. We are all vulnerable to attack—even
in our homes! For this reason, our federal Constitution
and most (if not all) State constitutions recognize the
Natural Law right of people to keep and bear arms.

Over the past 40-plus years, however, miscreants in
Washington, D.C., and in our State capitols have been
whittling away at the right of the people to keep and
bear arms. Lawful gun dealers are being harangued and
harassed out of existence by the BATFE. Law enforcement
agencies and State prosecutors often side with criminals
when they are shot in self-defense by intended victims
(especially in the Northeast). The media often
characterizes lawful gun owners as
"gun nuts" or
"militia
members" to try to create the impression that they are "dangerous" or "extremist."

Public education—especially higher education—is often a
willing participant in helping to demonize gun owners.
Even Hollywood often uses its influence to sway public
opinion against gun owners. All this, coupled with a
natural lazy tendency of urban living, equates to a
careless and defenseless society: something both
would-be tyrants in government and street criminals
love.

Fortunately, America`s founders were wiser than most of
today`s generation. They understood the relationship
between the citizen`s right (and determination) to keep
and bear arms and his or her safety and security.

For example, Thomas Jefferson said,
"No free man
shall ever be
debarred the use of arms." He also said, "Laws that forbid the carrying
of arms . . . disarm only those who are neither inclined
nor determined to commit crimes . . . Such laws make
things worse for the assaulted and better for the
assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to
prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked
with greater confidence than an armed man."

Likewise, Thomas Paine said,
"[A]rms, like laws, discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe,
and preserve order in the world as well as property . .
. Horrid mischief would ensue were one-half the world
deprived of the use of them; for while avarice and
ambition have a place in the heart of man, the weak will
become prey to the strong. The history of every age and
nation establishes these truths, and facts need but
little arguments when they prove themselves."

The Billings double murder is the latest example of just
how vulnerable we all are to the violent tendencies of
evil people. For this reason (and more), every American
should

(1) Resist any and all attempts by government to curtail
or restrict our legal right to keep and bear arms, and